11 foods that you should NEVER put in the fridge. So many people make the same mistake!
What is the first thing you do when you get your groceries? You segregate it and store it either in the fridge or outside. Have you ever wondered if you are putting the right foods inside the fridge? Yes, every food item needs a different temperature to maintain its nutrients and other properties.
What is the first thing you do when you get your groceries? You segregate it and store it either in the fridge or outside. Have you ever wondered if you are putting the right foods inside the fridge? Yes, every food item needs a different temperature to maintain its nutrients and other properties.
Here are 11 foods that you should NEVER put in a fridge
1. Bananas
Should be stored at room temperature, as the warm temperatures help the fruit to fully ripen, plus it will not decay.
2. Avocados
Avocados can be tricky fruits to manage. Keeping them in the refrigerator halts the ripening process so never keep them refrigerated. Just store your avocados on the counter at room temperature. If they are already ripe then use them immediately.
To ripen avocados, we suggest placing them in a brown paper bag along with an apple or banana for a few days (usually around two or three) until ripe. The apple (or banana) releases ethylene gas which causes the avocados to ripen more quickly.
3. Apples
Apples can be risky to keep in the fridge as they are an ethylene-producing fruit. If you keep them with other fruits and vegetables, then they will ripen more quickly. Sometimes that might just be too quick and leave you with spoilt fruits and veggies.
Apples can last for a good week or two on the counter and they can be quite the decorative piece with their delicious colors. If you do end up keeping them in the fridge (as they will last longer) just make sure to keep them separate! And remember, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch!
4. Garlic
Full bulbs of garlic should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as your pantry. Keep them in a ventilated container. If you keep them in an airtight container they will mold quite rapidly. If you store your garlic properly it will stay good for months.
5. Potatoes
It is a good idea to store raw potatoes in a basket in the open. Avoid storing it in the fridge. The cold temperature alters the starchy complex carbohydrates found in raw potatoes, and they will become sweet, when used for cooking.
6. Onions
Whole, uncut, onion bulbs should never be kept in the fridge. If you do, they will quickly become moldy and mushy from the humidity in the refrigerator. When onions are chilled the starches inside the bulb are converted to sugars.
If they are left long enough in the fridge, the onion will liquefy completely. And nobody wants that. Onions should be kept in a cool dry place in a ventilated container or easier, just keep them in the mesh bag they already come in.
You shouldn’t also keep garlic in the fridge.
7. Eggs
This is a controversial food to keep out of the refrigerator for sure. But it actually is fine to keep eggs at room temperature. As a general rule though, if you buy eggs in the refrigerated section, keep on refrigerating them.
If you buy eggs at room temperature, then it’s fine to keep doing so or put them in the fridge, should you wish. According to Tim Hayward, presenter for the Food Programme on BBC Radio 4, “A fresh, free-range egg should last beautifully at room temperature for at least a week.”
8. Bread
You will be shocked to know that bread can become stale and dry, when you store it in the fridge. Yes, you heard us right! Try to keep it in the pantry.
9. Donuts
There is nothing more delicious than a freshly baked donut. But what do you do when you have too many? Firstly, that sounds like an amazing problem. Secondly, don’t fret, and whatever you do, don’t put them in the fridge.
The fridge will make your donuts stale and soggy so it’s best to just keep them at room temperature and make sure that they are covered. They won’t last long, though. Freshly-baked donuts should only be kept for around two days maximum.
10. Tomatoes
Your haul of fresh tomatoes belongs on the counter, not in the refrigerator. The cold, humid atmosphere inside the fridge can affect the texture of your tomatoes before you have a chance to use them. Just make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. Cherry tomatoes are the only variety that tend to stand up to time in the fridge without turning mushy or mealy too quickly.
11. Honey
Cold temperatures can cause honey to crystallize more quickly than when stored in a dark, cool place like your pantry. Keep in mind that, over time, honey will always crystallize eventually.
